We had a strong sense from the Lord that we should be in Nigeria at least twice this year but had no idea that on both occasions we would be travelling for funerals (see our April report). There are many pulls on our time from various places around the world. Invitations come for all kinds of conferences. However, no pull is as strong as the bond of relationship.
Relational ministry is at the heart of the Gospel and we are grateful for the friendships we have built over time with Tokunbo Johnson of Capstone, Peter Unouarumhi of Cornerstone Anointed Church of Christ (CACC) and the team at Tony Rapu’s church, This Present House, all of whom hosted us on this trip and gave us the benefit of their love and encouragement whilst we were in Lagos.
Hugh preaching at This Present House |
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Hugh preaching at Capstone
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Other relationships come from a calling to pray…
Some four or five years ago I sensed a growing calling to strengthen my praying for the rising leaders in the Nigerian church. This prayer commitment began in 1972 when I began praying for a young evangelist called Benson Idahosa. By the early 1990s in London I was meeting most of the prominent Nigerian independent church leaders, then in their late 30s or early 40s. In praying for them, I started praying for the younger generation coming up in their wake. It is this second group that has been much in my prayers of late.
It was a real privilege, having been praying more specifically for Sam Adeyemi of Daystar Christian Centre, Lagos, for some years now, to meet him, his wife and teenage daughter at the International Gathering of Champions in London this summer. We built on the relationship when I spoke at Daystar during this latest trip to Nigeria. I was humbled by the welcome I received from his 3000-strong mid-week congregation.
The CiC training seminar at CACC |
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Hugh preaching at Daystar Christian Centre
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Building heart-to-heart relationships such as these (and I could mention so many more in different places around the world) is, for me, the very key to ministry.
There are great people around the world doing great things for the Kingdom of God. Some are seen by everyone as great people and have their accomplishments acknowledged by all; some, to many, look small and are dismissed as achieving little. God is in the business of encouraging hearts and He sees people and accomplishments for whom and what they really are.
Please pray that God will give me the grace and strength to give every God-ordained relationship the time and attention it deserves. As one of my partners your generosity is really important in enabling me to be in the right place at the right time saying the right things to the right people. I need your prayers to ensure that I stay faithful to God’s Word.
